Splicing machine



March 22, 1966 D. E. PARTRIDGE 3,241,579

SPLICING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l 166 ma. E. Mmmm@ 3,241,579"

SPLIGING MACHINE Filed June 29. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. mlld MQW/06E United States Patent O 3,241,579 SPLICING MACHINE Donald E. Partridge, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Universal Steel Strapping, Inc., Los Angeles, Caiif., a corporation of California Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,457 19 Claims. (Cl. 140-93.2)

This invention relates to band tensioning and splicing machines and more particularly to an improved rnachine for splicing tensioned bands without fasteners, locking keys or seals of any kind and including means for permanently locking the splice against disassembly.

Various proposals have been made heretofore for strapping machines operating to hold a steel band wrapped about a pack-age or container while splicing the overlapped ends of the band together. The present invention provides an improved machine of this general type incorporating numerous novel features and functioning to permanently splice a tensioned band about a package `without need for `auxiliary fasteners, seals or locking keys of any character. To this end the machine comprises a lightweight, easily portab-le, unit-ary assembly having provision for receiving the overlapped portions of continuous banding dispensed from `a supply reel. One of the two operating levers functions to clutch the overlapped -ends and to slide one end relative to the other in a lengthwise direction to tension the band to a desired degree of tautness with overlapped porti-ons thereof located between slitting dies for-ming part of t-he splicing machine. These dies, operable by a second lever, include means for severing excess banding material as an incident to the formation of stepped slits extending lengthwise of the band and while simultaneously bulging the portion between a pair of slits in a direction opposite to the material to either side of the slits. Thereafter, upon relaxing the tension holding mechanism utilizing the first Iof the operating levers, the overlapped ends of the banding slip slightly relative to one another causing the oppositely bulged shoulders of the .slits to interlock to form a positive high-strength splice while leaving the band amply tensioned. Thereafter movement of the second or die-operating handle in a different direction from that employed to slit the band is utilized to deform the splice in a manner to prevent reverse or separating movernent of the interlocked shoulders. The band splice is now complete and the splicing machine is disengaged` for use in forming the nex-t splice.

Accordingly it is a pri-mary object of the present invention to provide an improved, simplified machine for splicing the overlapped ends of metal strapping without need for fasteners or other components t-o hold the parts permanently and rigidly spliced together.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a unitary, lightweight, portable splicing machine for permanently locking the overlapped edges of two metal parts together using only deformed interlocking portions of the metal banding per se.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a splicing machine for joning together stiff sheet material featuring two operating levers operable in sequence, a first lever controlled mechanism holding the parts in overlapped relation between a pair of slitting dies and a second lever controlled mechanism operating to slit the overlapped portions of material and to deform the same in Iopposite directions to permit interlocking engagement when the parts are moved relative to one another lengthwise of the slits, the second lever controlled mechanism being operable subsequent to interlocking of the slits to deform another portion of the two members in a manner ICC to hold them permanently interlocked against subsequent disassembly.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following s'peciic-ation and claimsand upon considering in connection therewith the attached draw-ings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the splicing machine in readiness to begin tensioning a band about .a pack-age to -be banded;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational View with portions broken away with the parts in readiness to begin the splicing operation;

1FIGURE 3 is a tranverse sectional view through the tensioning assembly taken along line 3--3 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational sectional View through the hold down clutch Iof the tensioning mechanism taken along line 4-4 on FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the tensioning mechanism;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views through the splicing assembly taken along lines 6 6 and 7--7 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the band centering templates;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view through the Ib-and slitting dies while fully mated;

FIGURE l0 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 but showing the position of the parts during the deformation of the spliced ends to lock them permanently spliced together;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan View of the completed splice made by the splicing machine; and

`FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal view taken generally along line 12-12 on FIGURE 7. i

Referring more particularly to FIGURES l and 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the unitary portable combination banding jack and splicing machine designated generally 10. Machine 10 has a thin base plate 11 secured to the main frame 12 by a plurality of screws 13 (FIG- URE 6). As viewed from the top, main frame 12 is of U-shape in cross section and provides a vertical slideway 14 for a rectangular die carrier block 15. The open side Iof slideway 14 is normally closed by a removable cover plate 16 held assembled to the main frame by cap screws 17 (FIGURE l). The die carrier, dies and the operating lever therefore will be described presently following a description of the band clutching and tensioning mechamsm.

The band gripping and tensioning mechanism The band gripping and tensioning mechanism is shown at the left end of the main frame as viewed in FIGURE l and includes an operating lever 2t) having multiple functions `while being moved to and fro about the axis of a shaft 21 journaled eccentrically of a cylinder 22 mounted in a transverse bore 23 through main frame 12. A deeply serrated band gripping wheel 25 is detachably secured by an unshown set screw to the right hand end of shaft 21 as viewed in FIGURE 3. Fixed to the left hand end of cylinder 22 is a ratchet wheel 27 mounting on its exterior face a pair of pins 28, 29. These pins extend into the path of rotation of a pair of notches 3i), 31 formed in the lower edge of lever 20 and disposed on the opposite sides of mounting shaft 21 for lever 20, as is best shown in FIGURE 4. A dog 33 pivoted to main frame 12 by pin 34 is urged by a tension spring 35 into locking engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 27.

Shaft 21 projects outwardly beyond the hubbed end of ratchet wheel 27 to provide a circular seat for operating lever 2t). The remainder of the outboard end of shaft 21 is noncircular or square in cross-section, as is indicated at 38 in FIGURE 5, to receive the complementally shaped bore extending through the center of a ratchet wheel 39. The latter wheel is held in assembled position by a washer 40 and a cap screw 41 mounted in the end of shaft 21. Ratchet wheel 39 is controlled by a pair of spring pressed dogs best shown in FIGURE 5. A rst or holding dog 44 is movably mounted on a pin 45 fixed to frame 12 and is maintained engaged with the teeth of ratchet Wheel 39 by a torsion spring 46. A second or operating dog `47 is movably mounted on pin 48 carried by operating lever and is maintained in engagement with the ratchet teeth by a torsion spring 49.

In the position of the parts shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the band gripping or clutching mechanism is shown holding `a pair of band ends 50a, 50b powerfully pressed together in overlapping relation between serrated wheel and the underlying stationary serrated anvil 51, the latter being held assembled to base 11 by a screw 52,

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be understood that When ratchet wheel 27 governing the operation of the band clamping wheel 25 and anvil 51 is in the position shown in FIGURE 4, the 4band ends 50a, 50h are powerfully clamped together; when so tightly clamped, stop pins 28, 29 on ratchet wheel 27 are positioned as shown in FIGURE i4. However, when the gripping wheel 25 is in its open or elevated position, stop pin 28 will be between the twelve and one oclock positions as shown in FIG- URE 4 and the eccentrically supported shaft 21 will be rotated upwardly and to the left with its axis positioned to the right of the axis of cylinder 22. The parts are rotated to this position by reason of the engagement of notch 31 in the foremost end of lever 20 with stop pins 29. Of importance is the fact that the rounded or cammed forward surface 53 of the -operating lever is positioned to engage the transverse edge of dog 33 as notch 31 approaches pin 29, and operate to disengage dog 33 from ratchet wheel 27 before the notch engages pin 29. Further clockwise movement of lever 20 is then effective to rotate ratchet wheel 27 clockwise along with cylinder 22 thereby elevating shaft 21 and the band clutch wheel 25 therewith.

Closing of the clutching wheel 25 against the banding is accomplished by rotating operating lever 20 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4 to bring notch 30 into engagement with the other stop pin 2S, thereby rotating this pin along with ratchet wheel 27 counterclockwise to lower shaft 21 and the serrated gripping wheel 25 toward anvil 51 and against the strip ends resting thereon. As this `action takes place, dog 33 ratchets over the teeth of the ratchet wheel and prevents retrograde rotation of the wheel.

T he splicing mechanism The band splicing mechanism includes an operating handle 60 pivotally supported on a pivot pin 61 extending between main body 12 and cover plate 16. As is best shown in FIGURE 2, the lower end of handle 60 is provided with two cams 63, 64 having the general contour indicated in solid lines in FIGURE 2, ca-m 63 being effective to operate the slitting dies and cam 64 effective to depress a plunger for deforming the splice to lock it permanently assembled. Normally lever 60 is held in its upright or neutral position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 by a spring-pressed ball detent 66 (FIGURE 6) mounted in a wel167 of the main body and having its rounded end urged by spring 69 to seat in a recess 63 formed in the side of the lever. If desired, suitable counterbalance springs of a well known character could be provided constantly urging the lever to its neutral position from either direction into a position wherein the ball detent 66 seats in recess 68. A further feature of handle 60 is the provision of a stop 72 engageable with an adjustable stop screw 73 mounted in a lug 74 projecting from the body of the machine. Engagement of stop 72 with the top of screw 73 limits the Clockwise pivotal movement of the lever for a purpose which will be better understood presently.

Die carrier 15 is of H-shape in cross section. Suitably secured along the groove in its lower edge by set screws 75 are hardened female dies 76 which cooperate with a complementally shaped male die 77 suitably secured to the upper surface of base plate 11. These two sets of dies are suitably shaped to shear pairs of stepped slits 79, 30 through the overlapped ends 50a, 50b of the banding material, the stepped slits 79, 80 having the general configuration shown in FIGURE 11. Simultaneously with the described slitting, the portion of the band ends between a given pair of slits is bulged upwardly whereas the material outwardly of the slits is bulged downwardly with the maximum separation between the oppositely bulging parts occurring opposite the step in the slits. The downward bulges of the outer edges of the strips are formed by the downwardly arched portions 82, 83 of the female dies whereas the upwardly bulged upward portions are formed by the upwardly crowned surfaces of male dies 77. It is also pointed out that both the male and female dies are shaped to form the stepped portions 85, 85 in each of the slits. Bulging the band ends in opposite directions as described causes the stepped portions 85' of the lower band end to lie in a plane above the top surface of the correspondnig area of the upper band end. Consequently, relaxation of the tension on the band permits the ends to pull apart relative to one another with the result that shoulders 85 of the lower band override and interlock with the upper band end in the manner clearly illustrated in FIGURE 12. The shoulders in the two band ends overlap for only a short distance but this is sullicient to provide a very powerful s lice.

pReverse or unlocking movement of the band ends is safeguarded against by a locking depression or dimple of sufficient depth to lock the bands against reverse lengthwise movement.

Deformation or dimple 90 is formed by an appropriately shaped axial boss 91 on the lower end of a plunger 92 reciprocally supported in die carrier 15 and normally spring biased to its retracted position by a spring 93 (FIGURE 6). Adjustably secured to the upper end of plunger 92 is a cap screw 94 held in adjusted position by a jam nut 95. The upper end of cap screw 94 is located in the path of cam 64 on the lower end of lever 60. The deforming boss 91 on the lower end of the plunger cooperates with an appropriately shaped well 97 (FIGURES 2 and 6) formed in lower die member 77.

Die carrier 15 is forcibly lowered to slit the band ends by means now to be described and including a roller (FIGURES 2 and 7) 100 having trunnions 101 suitably mounted crosswise of the upper end of carrier 15. This roller is positioned to be engaged by the forwardly projecting cam surface 63 on operating lever 60 as the latter is pivoted counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 2. When so pivoted, the female die blocks 76 are forced downwardly to slit the underlying overlapped ends 50a, 50h of the tensioned strapping.

It is often difficult to separate the die parts and to strip the slitted bands from the male die member and the present machine includes appropriate provision for performing both functions. Referring first to FIGURE 7 it will be observed that an L-shaped stripper member has its vertical leg extending along a slot 106 formed in the side wall of carrier 15, and is slotted at 107 to receive the head of a stop screw 108 threaded into carrier 15. Horizontal leg 109 of stripper 105 underlies the banding being spliced together and during the forced retraction of die carrier block 15, this leg is carried upwardly therewith to strip the spliced material from the male die.

Retraction movement of die carrier 15 is accomplished by means best shown in FIGURES 2 and 7. Thus, journalled to trunnions 101 of roller 100 are a pair of arcuate arms 111 interconnetced at their upper end by a roller pin 112. Since bail arms 111 are free to pivot on trunions 101, roller 112 rolls by gravity action into depression 113 formed along the upper edge of cam 63 of operating lever 6() during the slitting operation of lever 60. The right hand end of notch 113, as viewed in FIGURE 2, has a slight hump and is effective to elevate die carrier as handle 60 rotates clockwise towards its neutral position. As the handle approaches its neutral position, roller 100 will contact cam surface 63 and cause roller 112 to override the hump at the inner end of notch 113 and fall into deep notch 114 thereby allowing carrier 15 to drop back toward the male die 77. Handle 60 may now be pivoted clockwise to the extent necessary to operate the dimpling plunger 92.

Important auxiliaries of the splicing machine include severing means for cutting off the supply end of banding material 120 from its supply reel. This cut olf means includes a stationary anvil 121 rigidly secured to the main body of tbe machine by screws 122. Cooperating with the left hand or cut off edge of anvil 121 is a shearing knife 123 extending crosswise of female die 76. Underlying knife 123 on the underside of the tensioned strapping is a round surfaced forming member 12S welded or otherwise suitably secured to die member 77. The upper surface of this forming member is positioned to cooperate with the adjacent surface of die member 76 in forming a shallow transverse corrugation on the severed end of the slice. Forming member 125 will be recognized as cooperating with the overlying portion of die member 76 in limiting the length of the slits formed in the band being spliced.

Referring to FIGURE 8 it is pointed out that an adjustable wear plate 130 is held adjustably secured to the main body by a cap screw 131. The vertical edge of this plate provides a stop engageable by the inner edge of the lower band end and assures that this end will be properly positioned relative to the slitting dies. A similar function is performed by a notch 133 formed in the lower edge of a positioning member 134 for the upper strap end. If wider material is to be used for the strapping operation, member 134 may be inverted to bring the wider guide notch 135 into position.

Operation Assuming that the user wishes to band the package 140 indicated in FIGURE 1, he places splicing machine 10 against the top surface of the package after encircling the same with metal banding material 120 from a supply reel not shown. Serrated wheel 25 of the clamping and tensioning mechanism should then be in its open position with operating handle positioned as shown in FIGURE 1. The second operating handle 60 should also be in its neutral vertical position with roller 112 seated in notch 113 to hold die part 76 elevated thereby assuring that the dies will be separated from one another. The overla-pped ends of banding 120 are inserted into machine 10 from the face thereof illustrated in FIGURE l, care being taken to have the main supply strip uppermost and overlying the top surface of the anvil 121 and the free end 50b underlying anvil 121. It is also important that the overlapped portions of the strips be seated with lower end 50h resting against the edge of wear plate 130 (FIG- URE 8) and with the upper end 50a seated in notch 133 of gauge member 134.

The operator then removes the slack from the banding and pivots lever 2t) downwardly causing notch 30 on the underside of this lever to engage stop pin 28 thereby rotating the cylinder 22 Counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4 to carry shaft 21 and serrated wheel 25 toward clamping jaw 51. It will be recalled that when serrated wheel 25 is in its open or raised position stop pin 28 is approximately in the one oclock position as viewed in FIGURE 4. The operator continues the downward rotary movement of lever 2t) until the sharp teeth in Wheel 25, acting in cooperation with the underlying stationary teeth of jaw 51, have tightly clamped the ends 50a, Stlb therebetween. As this operation takes place, dog 33 ratches over the ne teeth in ratchet wheel 27 integral with the eccentric cylinder 22 in readiness to lock the clamping jaws rmly seated.

The next operation is to pivot operating lever 20 back and forth through a small are to rotate serrated wheel 25 Counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 2 causing the upper strap end 50a to be fed or slid lengthwise over underlying strip end Silb, such movement being continued until all portions of the band 120 encircling package 140 are under the desired tension.

Counterclockwise operation of serrated wheel 25 to tension the banding is accomplished by to-and-fro movement of handle 20 through a small arc between approximately the nine oclock position shown in FIGURE 1 and the eleven oclock position. When the movement is limited to this zone, notch 30 does not engage pin 28 nor is camming surface 53 on the end of the lever engageable with dog 33 to disengage this dog from ratchet wheel 27. For these reasons the described limited movement of the handle does not change the adjustment of the clamping jaws which remain locked in snug engagement with the remote surfaces of band ends 50a and 50b. Howeverso long as lever 20 is confined to the arc between the nine and ten thirty oclock positions, dog 47 carried by lever 20 is effective to continue tensioning of the banding by advancing ratchet wheel 39 clockwise and dog 44 is eective to lock the ratchet wheel against reverse rotation.

The band having been properly tensioned about package 140, the operator next pivots lever 60 Counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURES l and 2 to form two sets of stepped slits 79, (FIGURE 7). As lever 60 is pivoted Counterclockwise its forward cam 63 contacts roller 100 carried by the die carrier block 15 forcing die block 76 downwardly against the band ends and slits them along the contour described above and illustrated in FIGURE 11. In so doing the portion of both band ends between a given set of slits is bulged upwardly whereas the material to either outer side of the slits is bulged downwardly. It is important that these bulges be sufficiently pronounced to elevate the undersurface of end 50b above the top surface of end 50a in the area in close proximity to the slit shoulders 8S, 85', and best understood from a consideration of FIGURE 12.

Interlocking of the two shoulders of each pair of slits with one another occurs automatically by opening serrated wheel 25 away from jaw 51. This is accomplished by pivoting lever 20 upwardly toward its vertical position causing cam 53 on the end of this lever to engage behind dog 33 and pivot it out of locking engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 27 and then continuing the upwardly pivotal movement causing notch. 31 of the lever to engage pin 29 carried by wheel 27. The lever continues -to be rotated until upper pin 28 on wheel 27 is substantially in the one oclock position at which time serrated wheel 25 is in its fully open position as is indicated by dot and dash circle on FIGURE 2. The stored tension then present in band causes slight lengthwise slippage between ends 50a and 50b engaging shoulders 85 behind the associated shoulders 85 of upper band end 50a. When fully interlocked, shoulders 85, 85' have the general appearance illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12.

During the inital stage of the slitting operation and as die 76 is moved downwardly toward die 77 it is pointed out that the shearing edge 123 of die 76 cooperates with cut off anvil 121 to shear the excess portion of the banding from the portion wrapped about package 140. Furthermore as the dies slit the material the portion of die 76 adjacent cut off knife 123 cooperates with forming member 125 to form a transverse shallow corrugation across the splice, an operation which will be best understood from the showing in FIGURES 9 and 10. Among the important advantages of this transverse corrugation 126 is the fact that the sharp-edged freshly sheared end of the strap is bent downwardly and pressed into the underlying main body of the strapping to render the edges of this sheared end harmless as well as avoiding risk of damage to the splice by the free end becoming caught on some object.

At this point it will be understood that the primary splice is complete, the surplus banding being severed and the band encircling the package being still under tension since the slight relative movement of the spliced ends required to interlock the ends is insufficient to relax the band tension.

However, it is possible that subsequent handling or shrinkage of the package material will remove the remaining tension from the band and that subsequent handling of the package with the loosened band may result in disassembly of the splice. However, this possibility is positively safeguarded against by a further important operation performed by the splicing machine.

After slits 79 and 80 have been formed the operator reverses the pivotal movement of handle 60 to return it toward its upright neutral position. At the start of the return movement roller 112 is seated in notch 113 overlying slitting cam 63 and is effective to retract die carrier block 15. In so doing the L-shaped stripper member 105 (FIGURE 7) having a lost motion connection with the carrier block is also raised and acts to strip the banding material from die member 77. As lever 60 approaches its upright position, roller 112 rides off the hump at the inner end of notch 113 and falls into notch 114. The movement of the roller into notch 114 will be recognized as disconnecting the die carrier from the op erating handle thereby conditioning the handle for continued pivotal movement to the right as viewed in FIG- URE 2 to bring cam 64 into engagement with the upper end of plunger 92. Depression of plunger 92 acts to place a deep deformation or dimple 90 in the spliced ends of band 120 in an area generally centrally between the two sets of slits 79, 80. Desirably, no material is punched from the splice although a deep nesting depression is formed in each of the spliced ends effective to lock them against relative movement in the plane of the splice. Handle 60 continues to pivot and to lower the dimpling plunger 92 until stop 72 engages the adjustable stop 73 on the main body of the splicing machine. Throughout this dimpling operation roller 112 remains positioned in notch 114 of lever 60.

The locking deformation 90 having been completed, the operator returns lever 6i) to its upright position where it remains under the restraining action of the ball detent 66 seated in notch 68 of the lever. The machine is now withdrawn laterally away from the completed splice, all parts being positioned in readiness for making the next splice without need of any preliminary adjustments or changes in the setting of the parts or in the adjustment of either operating lever.

While the particular splicing machine herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design hereinshown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. That improved method of permanently interlocking two overlapped sheets of stiff material together which comprises overlapping one sheet onto another and in direct surface-to-surface contact in the area to be joined, forming similar pairs of oppositely stepped slits with the slits in one sheet in registry with those of the other sheet, depressing the adjacent portions of said sheets in a direction normal to the surface thereof sufficiently to interengage the steps of one pair of slits behind the steps in the other pair of slits in registry therewith, and thereupon displacing said sheets in opposite directions lengthwise of said slits to complete the interlocking engagement of said displaced steps, and thereafter permanently interlocking said steps in the last mentioned position by corn plementally deforming both of said sheets in a direction normal to the surface thereof in an area closely spaced to said interlocked steps to form internested deep depressions in said sheets.

2. That method defined in claim 1 characterized in forming said pairs of interlocked slits in duplicate and spaced close to one another with the slits in one interlocked set thereof generally parallel to the interlocked slits in the other interlocked set thereof.

3. That method defined in claim 2 characterized in forming said complementally-shaped positively locking depressions in an area intermediate said sets of slits.

4. That improved method of band-ticing a package or the like using continuous metal stripping which comprises encircling the package to be tied with said stripping, overlapping the free end of said stripping with a length of the main supply thereof, drawing said overlapped portions in opposite directions to tension the tie snugly about said package, severing the tie from the main body closely adjacent the overlapped portions thereof, forming opposed pairs of stepped slits lengthwise of both ends of said overlapped portions, displacing the material between the slits from the plane of the strips sufficiently for the stepped portions of the slits in one strip to engage behind the stepped portions of the slits in the other strip, relaxing the applied tension on said band tie to per mit the stepped portions of the pairs of slits to interlock by slight relative lengthwise movement of said strip ends, and thereafter permanently locking said strip ends against further relative movement in the plane of the strips by deforming the overlapped portions of said strips transversely of the thickness of the strips in closely spaced relation to said interlocked stepped portions.

5. That method defined in claim 4 characterized in the step of forming duplicate sets of said stepped slits and interlocked portions thereof in spaced apart areas of the overlapped ends of said strip ends, and being further characterized in that said permanent locking step is performed in an area located between said duplicate sets of slits.

6. The method defined in claim 4 characterized in that said permanent locking step comprises dimpling said overlapped portions by displacing contacting areas of said strip ends in the same direction from the plane of said strips thereby to internest the same.

7. That method dened in claim 6 characterized in that said dimpling step is performed intermediate the lateral edges of said strip ends and in a manner avoiding deformation of substantial portions of the width of said strips to either side of said dimpling.

S. A band-tieing machine for use in banding packages and articles for shipping, said machine comprising a main frame having combined means for gripping the overlapped ends of stripping and for moving these ends in opposite directions to tension said stripping between said overlapped ends, die means for slitting overlapped portions of said ends and simultaneously deforming the slit areas in a manner positioning portions of the slit in one strip end to engage behind portions of the slit in the other strip end, means for releasing the tension on said stripping as maintained by said machine during slitting of the stripping thereby permitting a slight relative lengthwise move ment of the strip ends effective to interlock the interengaging deformed portions of said slits, and means on said machine for thereafter deforming overlapped portions of said stripping adjacent said interlocked slitted portions in a direction generally normal to the plane of the interlocked portions to hold said strip ends against movement to disengage said interlocked slitted portions.

9. A band-ticing machine as defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision of a first operating handle for gripping and tensioning said stripping and of a second operating handle for operating said slitting means and said means for deforming the overlapped ends to hold the interlocked slitted portions permanently and positively interlocked.

10. A band-tieing machine as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said second operating handle includes means for operating said die means to slit said stripping when moved in one direction and for deforming the stripping to permanently interlock the engaged portions of said slits when moved in a second and different direction..

11. A band-tieing machine as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said first operating handle includes means cooperating therewith and operable by said handle firstly to grip the overlapped ends of the stripping, secondly to move said overlapped ends in opposite directions to tension said stripping between said ends, and thirdly to release the gripping action on said overlapped ends 12. In a band-tieing machine of the type including means for tensioning the overlapped ends of a metal strip encircling a package in preparation for handling and having means for shearing and interlocking juxtaposed overlapped portions of the strip ends; that improvement which comprises means carried by said machine and operable to deform and displace discrete superimposed portions of the interlocked overlapped ends of said strip in a direction transversely of the plane of said ends thereby to lock said interlocked portions against movement in a direction to separate the same; said means for deforming and displacing discrete portions lof said strip ends comprising a plunger separate from said shearing and interlocking means supported reciprocably with its axis generally normal to the face of said overlapped ends and having a protuberance on its end adjacent one face of said strips and cooperating with a complementally shaped forming member axially aligned therewith and located closely adjacent the opposite face of said strip ends to form compactly nested locking dimples in said strip ends.

13. In a band-tieing machine as defined in claim 11 characterized in that said plunger includes means normally holding the same retracted, and means for limiting the advance stroke of said plunger to avoid shearing metal displaced by the operating stroke of said plunger.

14. In a band-tieing machine of the type having a main frame, first die means mounted thereon and disposed opposite one side of passageway means adapted to receive and clamp the overlapped ends of a band tie therein, means movably supported on the side of said passageway means opposite said die means and having second die means thereon cooperable with said first die means to form slits in the overlapped ends of banding positioned in said passageway means and to deforrn the juxtaposed slits into positions to interlock with one another as the overlapped ends are pulled apart in the plane of said ends, and cooperating third die means operable following interlocking engagement of said ends by said relative separating movement to deform superimposed portions of said overlapped ends into snugly nested relationship with one another transversely of the thickness of said ends to lock said ends permanently against movement in a direction to disengage the interlocked slits.

15. A band-tieiug machine as defined in claim 14, characterized in that a portion of said third die means is carried by said second die means, common operating means for said second and third dies and operable to move said second and third dies in out-of-phase relation.

16. A band-tieing machine as defined in claim 1S characterized in that said common operating means for said second and third die means includes means for retracting said second die means as said common operating means is operated to actuate said third die means.

17. A band-tieing machine as defined in claim 16 characterized in that said means for retracting said second die means includes lost motion connection means permitting said common operating means to move through a range required to operate said third die means Without appreciable movement of said third die means.

18. A band tying machine for banding packages and articles for shipping, comprising: a base; a main frame secured to said base; a first lever arm rotatably attached to said main frame, said first lever arm capable of gripping said band and also tightening the same so as to produce a tensional load thereon; a first die means for simultaneously slitting said band and providing shoulder deformations thereon slidably engaged with said main frame; means for retracting said first die means from contact with said band; a second die means for deforming said band normally to the plane thereof thereby providing a permanent interlock between the band strands; a second lever arm rotatably attached to said main frame, said second lever arm being capable of sequentially activating said first and said second die means, respectively; and means carried by said second lever arm to limit the deformation o of said band by said second die means.

19. A band tying machine as described in claim 1S` wherein said retraction means for the first die means is comprised of pin and groove means carried by the second lever arm and wherein the first and second die means are sequentially activated by successive cam means carried by the second lever arm at one end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,982,630 12/1934 Bent 140-93 2,324,609 7/ 1943 Watt et al 140-93.2 2,549,626 4/ 1951 Mosey 140-93.2 2,779,356 1/ 1957 Schulze 140--93 FOREIGN PATENTS 626,974 3/ 1936 Germany.

484,941 5/ 1938 Great Britain.

329,596 6/ 1958 Switzerland.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM F. PURDY, MICHAEL V. BRINDISI,

Examiners. 

1. THAT IMPROVED METHOD OF PERMANENTLY INTERLOCKING TWO OVERLAPPED SHEETS OF STIFF MATERIAL TOGETHER WHICH COMPRISES OVERLAPPING ONE SHEET ONTO ANOTHER AND IN DIRECT SURFACE-TO-SURFACE CONTACT IN THE AREA TO BE JOINED, FORMING SIMILAR PAIRS OF OPPOSITELY STEPPED SLITS WITH THE SLITS IN ONE SHEET IN REGISTRY WITH THOSE OF THE OTHER SHEET, DEPRESSING THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID SHEETS IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE SURFACE THEREOF SUFFICIENTLY TO INTERENGAGE THE STEPS OF ONE PAIR OF SLITS BEHIND THE STEPS IN THE OTHER PAIR OF SLITS IN REGISTRY THEREWITH, AND THEREUPON DISPLACING SAID SHEETS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS LENGTHWISE OF SAID SLITS TO COMPLETE THE INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID DISPLACED STEPS, AND THEREAFTER PERMANENTLY INTERLOCKING SAID STEPS IN THE LAST MENTIONED POSITION BY COMPLEMENTARY DEFORMING BOTH OF SAID SHEETS IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE SURFACE THEREOF IN AN AREA CLOSELY SPACED TO SAID INTERLOCKED STEPS TO FORM INTERNESTED DEEP DEPRESSIONS IN SAID SHEETS. 